Means for observing the working conditions in the cylinder of an internal-combustionengine



Feb. 9 1926. v 1,572,423 A `H.' CHAPMAN Y @MEANS Non oBsERvINs THEWORKING CONDITIONS IN THE CYLINDER oF AN INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINEFiled July 25, 1922 l Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

v UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE..

HARRY CHAPMAN, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

'MEANS FOR OBSERVING THE WORKNG CONDITIONS IN THE CYLINDER OF AN lNTERNAL-COMBSTONENGINE.

Appncaaon sied July 25, 1922. i serial No. 577,476.

fo all 'whom/ may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY CHAraniN, a subject ot the King ot England,residing at Shetlield, in Yorkshire, England, have invented certain newand usetul Improvements Relating to Means tor Observing the lVorkingConditions in the Cylinder' ot` an Internal-Combustion Engine (for whichI .tiled an application for patent in Great Britain on the 10th August,1921) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description ot the same.

This invention relates to means tor observing the working conditions inthe cylinder of an internal combustion engine of the kind described inthe specification accom.- panying my application for Letters Patent No.175,79() tiled 7th June, 1921, in which an opening to the combustionchamber ot the cylinder is closed by transparentor translucent materialand light t'rom the combustion of 'fuel therein is reflected to the eyeot an observer, means for preventing risk ot' injury in case ottractureot such transparent material being provided it desired. Theobject ot the present invention is to provide improvements in such adevice with a view to prolongingfits life, simplifying its constructionand increasing its utility.

According to the present invention a tap, cock or the like is providedtor cutting oft and protecting the transparent or translucent materialfrom the combustion chamber.

. The light trom the combustion chamber is y the prismatic body.

transn'iitted and refiected by means ot a prismatic body which may alsobe employed to close theopening to the con'ibustion cha1nber. lnaconvenient construction a nipple i inder and to torni a )rimin oieninoVboth the branch and the main V.passage being controlled by the same tapor cock. A sec- V0nd branch to the atmosphere likewisecontrolled by thesame tap or cock may be fit-ted with a non-return exit valve, and beused tor scavenging purposes.

The device may be combined with a spark` ing plug adapter having achamber capa-ble ot receiving the plug electrodes and providing,communication between the nipple passage and the engine ycombustionchamber. Such an adapter enables the device to be used for viewing thespark. It desired means may be provided for coo-ling the de vice. v

The prismatie body employed toy retlect raysk from the engine combustionchamber may be in the form of a cylinder ianged at one end and bevelledor curved at theother, the liange being used for securing the body inposition and the bevel or curve, which may be silvered, to reiect thelight. When the prismatic body is curved it may be bevelled `at theexterior bend and its free end maybe rounded, to act as a magnifyingglass. A flat `face may, however, be formed on the prismatic bodyopposite the bevel, whether the cylinder is curved or not...l

In the accompanying drawings Y Figure 1 is an elevation partly insection ot a device according to the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a view similar'to Figure 1 showing a modification.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation and Figures t and 5 are elevations otparts of the device showing moditications.

Figures 6 and 7 are elevations showing 'further modifications and`Figure 8 is a sectional elevation showing a modiiication ot one of theparts.

`Like 'reference numerals indicate. like parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1 a nipple 1, which forms atap body is provided with a ,passage 2 extending through it andcontrolled by a tap 3. The nipple 1 is screwed at one end as shown at 4ttoenable `it to be attached to the en- 1gine with one end of the passage2 incomnumication with. the combustion chamber.

or other suitable packing in an 'internally 'ianged hollow extension '6kofV a nut 7 by neans of a ring 8. kBy screwing theuiut 7 to the end ofthel nipple-1 the lens`5 may thus be caused to closethe passagel 2. Adisplaceable.shield 9 isinounted .on the exterior of the extension6,"being held thereon by friction which may be ensured by any suitableforni otspring such as by slotting the open end of the shield, theexterior otthe extension'b being slightly conical it desired. A viewing;aperture 10 is made in the shield 9 and a refiector 11 is carried in theshield opposite the viewing aperture 10.

lVhen this device is in position theworkingv conditions of the cylinderto which it is attached vmay be observed at will tl'irough .the aperture10 by opening the tap 3, the colour of the 'explosion flan'ie Vforming areliable'indication otY such conditions."` At other times the lens 5 maybe cut oif and protected from the cylinder gases, oil7 coinbustionproducts, and fuel, by closing the capot-3.

A branch 12 from the nipple passage 2 to the atmosphere may be providedin such a position and the tap spindle orifice 13 be of suclrsize thatboth the lpassage 2 and the branch y12 may be cont-rolled by the one tap8. Thusv by partially turning the tap handle upwards from the positionshown in Figure 1, the branch 12( will` be opened tothe cylinder andwill act as afcompres` sion relief, and by turning the tapv handle stillturtherthe vbranch 12 willbe closed andthe lens 5 be' placed'` incommunication with the combustion chamber.

In the modication illustrated in Figure 2 the lens 5 and the reflectorV11 are replaced by a single` prismatic body 1er-0'1": glass or other t'ansparent ory translucent material.,r The prisinatic body 14 which is'shown detached in Figure i is constituted by a glass 4cylinder flangedat one end vas, shownat 15 and bevelled at the other e'nd as shown vat15. The ltace ot' the cylinder opposite to the bevel 16 may either belett rounded or may-be' flatas' indicated at l17. The flange 15 enablesthe prismatic vbody to be mounted in ai gas tight manner in the eX-tension 6,-'an'd if desired this endot lthe body 14 may be convex inshape to act as a lens. n

Figure -illustrates a rmodified form ot the prisinat-ic body le inwhich-the flanged cylinderis curved to retie'ctgat the desired anglelight rpassingthrough it. The mere curvature is sufficient in somecases'although the exterior bend of the curve may be vbevelled as shownindotted lines in Figure 5 at 16 to provide a flat surface and to increasethe brightness ot' the lreilection. In all .cases the curve or bevel`may be silvered for a'liliejpurpose, although `the silvering longperiods. `Athe lightfrom the-combustion chamber is isI preferably,"oniitted 'when thedevice is intended to be 1n continuous operation forThe free end through which viewed may either be flat or rounded as shownat ,17A tov actasfya magnifying (glass.

InFig'ure 2"also a second branch 18 from the passage 2 to the atmosphereis illustrated,y and-this .branchl is closed byy a non-return exit valve19. The branches 12 and 18 as well asthe passa-gel 2 are all controlledby the onetap 3. When this tap isplaced in such a position' as tov openboth the branch 18 4and the part of the passage 2 above v.it to thecylinder these parts may be scavenged, the non-return exit lvalve 19allowing waste gases' to pass into theair, and preventingair--froin-beingdrawn in. Byopening both the branch 12 and the passage2v simultaneously tothe combustion i chamber asimilar result will beattained, but air will'be admitted to the inner surfaceot the prismaticbody 14;

In the' modiiication shown in Figure the prisinatic 'body 14 isvmountedin the displaceable shieldvr 9, the -lniss'a'ge' 2 being closedby the lens '5 ras intheorin illustrated in Figure 1.

InV some cases, especial-ly when the engine isnot1provided with valvecaps and in cases where it 'is inconvenient to provideadditional"openings into the combustionfcham'ber, la device according tothe present invention may be combined with a sparking plug adapter'nsshown in 'Figure G, the lone' opening inthe combustion chamber servingboth-for ignition oi the fuel' and to view the' result. n The adapter20'is torm'ednwith a 'chamber 211e receive the sparking' plugfelectrodesthe `plug being screwed therein'instead ot in the conibusi 1tionchamber; eThe adapter. 2O is provided 'with a 'screwed or Itapped 'bosson to whichth'e nipple l of the viewing device is screwed,' the bosshaving f:ip'a'ssag'e through-1 it entering the 'chamber l and formingacontinuation of thc'passage 2 when the-device in position. The adapteris also providedwith a threaded boss 23 to renable it to beiitted -tothe combustion chamber and this boss likewise is provided with aA'passage through it from the chamber 21. The combinationotsuch anadapter with theviewing device enablesthe spark itself' -to` be seen aswell as `the'ex'osion tiaine.-

Means foncooling a device'accordingto the presentdnvention niaybevprovided ,it desired, Figure -7 illustratingcooling lins 24 on thelnipplel and Figur@ S Showing cooling fins2lon an-adapter 20 of'slightly difierent shape 'from Ethatl shown in :Figure .6. XVhenthecooljingxiins Y2x1-are situated liieltween the tap 3 and the Vviewing'device ,shown ijn- Figure Y anadditionzii scavenging aperture closed bya screw 25 may be provided if desired.

The displacea-ble shield 9 not only serves to cnt oii exterior lightfrom the lens or the like closing the vpassage 2 but it such lens shouldhappen to be 'fractured the shield will be blown otf along the axialline of the extension 6 `and nut 7 and will thus protect the vobserverfrom risk of injury.

By the employment ot' the present invention the viewing` device may bepermanently iitted to the eng'ine if desired, the tap 3 protecting thelens, prismatic body orthe like from the action of the explosive gases,and flames when not in actual use. To clean the lens or its equivalentit is only necessary to nnscrew the nut 7 whereby the inner tace of thelens will be rendered accessible.

lVhat I claim is l. In an internal combustion engine, the combinationwith a nipple or the like h aving aI passage through it, means forplacing one end of the passage in communication with the combustionchamber ot the engine, a prismatic body permitting` the passage of'light closing the other end of the passage, a cock capable of openingand 'closing communication between the prismatic body and the combustionchamber and a displaceable shield over the prismatic body having aviewing aperture, substair tially as specified.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the

con'ibination with a nipple or the like having a` passage through it,means ior placing one end of thc passage in communication with thecombustion chamber of. the engine, a prismatic body permitting thepassage ol light closing the other end of the passage, a cock capable oopening and closing co1nnnmication between the prismatic body and thecombustion chamber, a displaceable shield over the prismatic body havinga viewing aperture, and a branch from the nipple passage to theatmosphere, both the branch and the ina-in passage being controlled bythe same cock, substantially as specified.

Y 3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination'with a nipple orthe like having a passage through it, means for placing one end ot thepassage in communication with the coi'nbustion chamber of the engine, aprismatic body permitting the passage ot light closing the other end otthe passage, a cock capable ot' opening and closing coinmunicationbetween the prismatic body and the. combustion chamber, a displaceableshield over the prismatic body having a viewing aperture, and twobranches from the nipple passage to the atmosphere, both branches andthe main passage being controlled vby the sain-e cock, and one of thebranches being fitted. with a nonreturn exitvalve, substantiallyspecified,

ll. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a passageopening to thc combustion chamber, of a prismatic body closing thepassage and transmitting and reflecting light from the combustionchamber, the prismatic body being in the form of a cylinderl flanged atone end and having a surface at the other end reflecting light,transmitted axially through it, at an angle to its axis, substantiallyas specified.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a passageopening to the combustion chamber, ot a prismatic body closing thepassageand transmitting and reilecting light from the combustionchamber, the prismatic body being in the form of a cylinder flanged atone end and having a silvered surface at the other end reflecting light,transmitted axially through it, at an angle to its axis, substantiallyas speciiied.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a passageopening to the combustion chamber, of a prismatic body closing thepassage and transmitting and reflecting light 'from theV combustionchamber, the prismatic body being in theform of a cylinder iiange'd atone end `and bevelled at the other substantially as specified.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a passageopening to the combustion chamber, of a prismatic body closing thepassage and transmitting and reiiecting light from the combustionchamber, the prismatic body being in the torni ot a cylinder flanged atone end and bevelled and silvered at the other, substantially asspecified.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination. with a passageopening to the combustion chamber, ot a. prismatic body closing thepassage and transmitting and reflecting light from the combustionchamber, the prismatic body being in the form o'l a cylinder lflanged atone end, bevelled at the other and formed with a Hat :lace oppositethe'bevel, sulistantially as specified.

9. In an internal combustion engine the con'lbination ol' a, nipple orthe like having a. passage through it, means tor placing one end ot'rthe passage in communication with the combustion chamber ot the engine,a prismatic body permitting the passage of light closing the other endof vthe passage in the form ol a cylinder Hanged at one end bevelled atthe other and 'Formed with a flat face opposite the bevel, a cockcapable of opening and closing commnnication betweenV the prismatic bodyand the combustion chamber and a displaeeable shield over the prismaticVbody having a viewing aperture, substantially as specilied. f

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature,

.HARRY CHAPMAN,

